Spain progresses VCR 8x8 programme
Spanish Minister of Defence, Margarita Robles, has signed a new commitment allowing the incorporation of a limited company made up of four other national defence industry leaders.
Indra Sistemas, Santa Barbara Sistemas (part of General Dynamics), Sapa Placencia and Escribano Mechanical & Engineering will work together to carry out the VCR 8x8 programme.
This move means that that the contract for the programme could be signed in Q3 of FY2020, according to a 13 May defence ministry statement.
The government aims to retain the design authority in Spain with at least 70% participation from the national industry in the VCR 8x8 programme. The initiative is expected to create 650 direct and 1,000 indirect jobs mainly in Asturias, Seville, Guipuzcoa and Madrid.
The contract will also provide a solution to concerns from the Spanish Army over the maintenance and future upgrade of its 8x8 Dragón IFV, which has a service life of 40 years.
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